Battery module with smart electronic isolation systems

Abstract

A battery module includes a first set of power contacts and a first set of signal contacts. A battery pack is operable to deliver electrical power to the set of power contacts. An electronic isolation system is operable to electrically disconnect and electrically connect the battery pack and the first set of power contacts. An electronic control system is operable to obtain a comparisons between a state of charge, state of health, temperature and power of the battery module and an electrical device. A closing parameter is calculated that is based on at least one of the comparisons. The closing parameter is compared to a predefined closing parameter value to result in a connect determination. The electronic isolation system connects or disconnects the battery pack to the first set of power contacts based on a positive or a negative result respectively of the connect determination.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery module, comprising:
 a first set of power contacts; 
 a first set of signal contacts; 
 a battery pack operable to deliver electrical power to the set of power contacts; 
 an electronic isolation system operable to electrically disconnect and electrically connect the battery pack and the first set of power contacts; and 
 an electronic control system electrically connected to the electronic isolation system and to at least one of the first set of signal contacts or the first set of power contacts, the electronic control system comprising at least one sensor in communication with a microprocessor, the microprocessor comprising:
 a memory, and 
 an algorithm stored in the memory as a set of instructions for execution by the microprocessor, the algorithm being programmed to:
 sense signals from the at least one sensor indicative of parameters measure on the batter module and an electrical device, 
 based on the signals, obtain a first comparison between a state of charge of the battery module and the electrical device, obtain a second comparison between a state of health of the battery module and the electrical device, obtain a third comparison between a temperature of the battery module and the electrical device and obtain a fourth comparison between a power of the battery module and the electrical device, 
 calculate a closing parameter based on at least one of the first comparison, the second comparison, the third comparison or the fourth comparison, wherein the closing parameter comprises an absolute value of a difference between a closing voltage and a sag voltage, the sag voltage comprising a measured voltage on the electrical device prior to the power contacts of the battery module being connected to the electrical device, and the closing voltage being a predicted value of what the sag voltage will become if the power contacts of the battery module are connected to the electrical device, and 
 compare the closing parameter to a predefined closing parameter value to result in a connect determination as to whether it is desirable to connect the first battery module to the electrical device prior to connecting the first battery module to the electrical device; and 
 
 
 wherein the electronic isolation system only connects the battery pack to the first set of power contacts when a positive result of the connect determination is obtained. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical device comprises a second battery module. 
     
     
       3. The battery module of  claim 2 , comprising:
 the first comparison comprising a difference between a state of charge of the battery module and the second battery module; 
 the second comparison comprising a difference between a state of health of the battery module and the second battery module; 
 the third comparison comprising a difference between a temperature of the battery module and the second battery module; and 
 the fourth comparison comprising a difference between a power of the battery module and the second battery module. 
 
     
     
       4. The battery module of  claim 3 , comprising:
 the battery module and the second battery module comprising at least a portion of a plurality of battery modules of a battery module system, the battery module system including a power bus operable to be connected to the first set of power contacts of the battery module. 
 
     
     
       5. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined closing parameter value is less than 5 volts. 
     
     
       6. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined closing parameter value is less than 2 volts. 
     
     
       7. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control system comprises:
 at least one sensor comprising a temperature sensor, a current sensor and a voltage sensor; and 
 the microprocessor in communication with the temperature sensor, the current the sensor and the voltage sensor, the algorithm of the microprocessor programmed to perform a method comprising:
 measuring the temperature of the battery module and the electrical device with the temperature sensor, 
 measuring a current of the battery module and the electrical device with current sensor, 
 measuring voltage of the battery module and the electrical device with the voltage sensor, 
 calculating the state of charge, the state of health and the power with the temperature, the current and the voltage, 
 utilizing the temperature, the power, the state of charge and the state of health to obtain the first, second, third and fourth comparisons, 
 calculating, the closing parameter based on the first, second, third and fourth comparisons, and 
 comparing, the closing parameter to the predefined closing parameter value to result in a connect determination. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The battery module of  claim 7 , wherein the method comprises:
 determining the running state of the battery module, the running state comprising: a before power draw state, a during power draw state and an after power draw state; and 
 utilizing the running state to calculate the closing parameter. 
 
     
     
       9. A battery module, comprising:
 a first set of power contacts; 
 a first set of signal contacts; 
 a battery pack operable to deliver electrical power to the set of power contacts; 
 an electronic isolation system operable to electrically disconnect and electrically connect the battery pack and the first set of power contacts; and 
 an electronic control system electrically connected to the electronic isolation system and to at least one of the first set of signal contacts or the first set of power contacts, the electronic control system comprising at least one sensor in communication with a microprocessor, the microprocessor comprising:
 a memory, and 
 an algorithm stored in the memory as a set of instructions for execution by the microprocessor, the algorithm being programmed to:
 sense signals from the at least one sensor indicative of parameters measured on the battery module and an electrical device, 
 calculate a closing parameter based on the sensed signals, wherein the closing parameter comprises an absolute value of a difference between a closing voltage and a sag voltage, the sag voltage comprising a measured voltage on the electrical device prior to the power contacts of the battery module being connected to the electrical device, and the closing voltage being a predicted value of what the sag voltage will become if the power contacts of the battery module are connected to the electrical device, and 
 compare the closing parameter to a predefined closing parameter value to result in a connect determination as to whether it is desirable to connect the first battery module to the electrical device prior to connecting the first battery module to the electrical device; and 
 
 
 wherein the electronic isolation system only connects the battery pack to the first set of power contacts when a positive result of the connect determination is obtained.